Welcome to the Balearic Islands Guide!
The Balearic Islands are four Spanish islands: Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera. Hotel work is strongly seasonal, and housing is scarce and expensive. The islands suit EU and EEA citizens most, because they need no permit.
Who hires
In August 2026 about 1,350 hotels were open, with 174,500 rooms and 80,700 staff. The islands had about 19.1 million tourists in 2025, about 13.6 million of them on Mallorca. More than a quarter of hotel staff work in Calvià and Palma on Mallorca. On Ibiza, Sant Josep, Ibiza town and Sant Antoni are large centres. Other employers include the head offices of hotel groups in Palma, an airline based on Mallorca and the public health service.
When hiring happens
The season runs from May to October. Hotels had about 4,800 staff in January 2026, 36,100 in April and 69,500 in May, so most staff start in April and May. Few hotels stay open in winter outside Palma.
Where you live and what it costs
Staff housing is not standard, though larger hotels on Ibiza and Formentera often help. A room in a shared flat in Palma averaged EUR 550 a month in mid-2026 (about USD 620). In June 2026 estate agents said a room under EUR 800 (about USD 900) was practically impossible to find on Mallorca. The minimum wage is EUR 1,221 a month before deductions in 2026 (about USD 1,370), paid 14 times a year. Crowd-reported prices (November 2026) put a cheap restaurant meal in Palma at about EUR 17 (about USD 19). Mallorca's resident transport card cuts bus and train fares by 60% to 70%.
Daily life
In 2025 about 54% of foreign tourists came from Germany and the UK, so many guests speak German or English. In Magaluf, Playa de Palma and Sant Antoni, shops cannot sell alcohol from 9.30 pm to 8 am. Once registered with Social Security, you get a health card at a health centre. Basic public care is free. On days off people go to the beach or, from late April to mid-October, Ibiza's clubs.
Getting there and around
The main airport is Palma, and Ibiza and Menorca have their own. Flights come almost only from Europe, so from other continents you usually change planes in Madrid, Barcelona or another European city.
What to watch for
- Arrange housing before the season starts in May. Ask what the employer offers and deducts.
- By November about nine in ten hotel jobs are gone.
- Without an EU or EEA passport, hotel jobs and most others are hard to get. Local jobseekers come first.
- Read your own government's travel advice for the Balearic Islands before you travel.
Never pay anyone for a job offer or a visa.
Before you apply
Below this guide, "Can I work in the Balearic Islands?" gives the answer for your passport, and "What the job usually comes with" covers housing, meals, flights and leave.
Can I work in the Balearic Islands?
Never pay anyone for a visa or a job offer. A real employer pays the permit costs and never asks you for money.
How it works
How it works: Local-first test (hotel jobs are not on the shortage list), or a seasonal permit that comes with employer housing.
Official source: Spanish Ministry of Inclusion: residence and work permit for employees. Checked November 2026.
What the job usually comes with in the Balearic Islands
Usual for the Balearic Islands, varies by employer. Checked November 2026.
| Housing | Not standard; required with the seasonal permit |
|---|---|
| Meals | Staff meals customary |
| Flights | Only with the seasonal permit |
| Service charge | Small pooled tips |
| Contract | Permanent seasonal (fijo discontinuo), recalled each season |
| Leave | 30 days; pay in 14 instalments |
| Income tax | About 17% to 20% in all |
Senior staff often get more than line staff, for example a single room or a yearly home flight. Ask the employer what the job includes before you accept.
Guidance, not legal advice. Rules change; your employer confirms the details for your case.